Region

Friends of Lansdowne lose appeal

ctvottawa.ca
Published Monday, April 30, 2012 11:47AM EDT

The Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled the City of Ottawa's plan to redevelop Lansdowne Park is legal.

It was a unanimous decision by three judges assigned to make the ruling. It means the Friends of Lansdowne, who alleged the process was unfair and called it a single-sourced partnership with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, have lost another legal battle.

This is the second strike for the Friends of Lansdowne after a judge ruled the process legal last summer.

While the group has 60 days to appeal the ruling, the Supreme Court of Canada can refuse the case based on the unanimous decision by the Ontario Court of Appeal.

If the case is accepted the appeal could drag on for months, adding more delays to completing redevelopment plans.

City officials say it would not stop them from putting shovels in the ground to at least start the process. They argue crews can go ahead with preliminary work which needs to be done regardless of the final outcome.

Sources with the City tell CTV council will likely vote in favour of going ahead with initial ground work.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's John Hua

Photos

Jeff Hunt of ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group celebrates after Ontario Court of Appeal's ruling on redeveloping Lansdowne Park.